'Colliding Cultures' is an exchange between ACE Youth, a group of young people from Birmingham (U.K.) and Zfin Youth, a group of of young people in Valletta (Malta) passionate about dance, who despite barriers of culture will unite together for the first time in an exploration of culture. The exchange lasted 6 days and took take place in Birmingham, one of Britain’s most culturally diverse cities and with one of the youngest populations of all European cities. The aim of the week was for the groups to work together, exploring their similarities and differences, exchanging ideas and practice in their particular dance training and to create a new dance piece together which was presented at the brand new 'ACE Space' in Birmingham to an audience of friends, family and industry professionals. They will learn from each other, exchanging information through peer to peer learning and working informally together at the rehearsal studios in Digbeth. The starting points for the work will be investigative questions such as 'What is it like to be a young European and citizen of Europe? How has the cultural heritage of our two different cultures influenced our dance – for example Caribbean folk dances and classical ballet dance? How can we expand our way of dancing incorporating other influences?’ The young people will work together to exchange ideas about journeys, migration, their histories, cultures and heritage, their cities and how those cities have reacted to migration/immigration and use these exchanges to influence the choreography of the new piece. These discussions will take place as part of the rehearsal but also through visits to parts of the city that manifest how these journeys have changed the places where we live today. There will be young people involved in the project. Activities will include discussions, informal social gatherings, trips to dance performances, excursions to places of interest and a performance by the young people to showcase what they create. In the longer term our organisations hope to establish an ongoing youth exchange and apprenticeship programme for young dancers in the UK and Malta, who will become more rounded, mature and employable dancers, who are of a higher calibre due to the superior quality, varied training we offer.